About Me
- MA Licensed Reading Specialist, Gr. K-12
- MA Licensed ELA Teacher, Gr. 6-8
- MA Licensed ELA Teacher, Gr. 8-12
- MA Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Public Lookup for Educator Licenses https://elar2.com/Public/Search
- C.A.G.S. in Developmental Studies: Literacy & Language
Boston University Wheelock College of Education and Human Development
- M.Ed. in Reading Education
Boston University Wheelock College of Education and Human Development
- B.A. in English & Adolescent Education
State University of New York College at Geneseo
My Inspiration
My heart is in teaching, and I am passionate about engaging children meaningfully and joyfully with text. I love working with children of all ages to help develop their reading, writing, and thinking skills. I recognize the importance of supporting children’s emotional well-being as well, simultaneously growing their competence and confidence, helping them attribute the progress they make to their efforts, leveraging their curiosities about the world, and instilling a genuine love of learning.
What inspires me? I’m definitely inspired by my own children’s daily curiosities about the world. Kids are naturally inquisitive, and they ask the most profound questions. I often find myself having to admit that I simply don’t know the answer, which inevitably leads us on a quest to find the right books and websites that will help us unravel some truths. I learn so much from listening to my children and wondering alongside them. It’s truly inspiring to partake in their learning journeys each day forward.
As a former classroom teacher and a more recent home educator, I have experienced the joy and rewards of teaching and learning first hand. As a mother and teacher to three young boys, I am witness to the developmental leaps and bounds my own children make as readers, writers, and thinkers. I take pride in being a part of a child’s success with reading and writing, and I look forward to partnering with families to provide the tailored support and guidance your child needs to achieve every step of the way.
My Teaching Career
I have worked directly with school-aged children over the past twenty years, and have taught at all levels – from elementary to middle school and high school, and undergraduate and graduate students.
I began my professional teaching career in 2006 as a sixth-grade classroom teacher on Boston’s Northshore. I taught at Manchester Memorial Elementary School (K-6) and at Manchester-Essex Jr.-Sr. High School (6-8). Five years after my first teaching job, I decided to pursue a graduate degree. After earning a Master’s degree in Reading, I sought a new career path in higher education and in the fall of 2012. I joined a small cohort of doctoral fellows in pursuit of an Ed.D. in Developmental Studies: Literacy & Language, an endeavor that ultimately, spanned eight years of full-time literacy coursework and research (and eight years of commuting across the Tobin bridge – still under construction!). All the while, I served as the literacy coach at Boston University’s Donald D. Durrell Reading and Writing Clinic. At the Clinic, I tutored ELL students and children striving to read and write, providing interventions to accelerate growth. I also provided coaching support to teachers – I analyzed student assessment data, assisted Clinic teachers with developing personalized learning plans, and provided demonstration lessons. And, I was responsible for leading professional development, identifying and sharing illustrative examples of best practices with pre-service and in-service teachers.
Since 2015, I have also taught undergraduate and graduate level courses at Boston University, Wheelock College of Education and Human Development. These courses have focused on reading development, assessment, and instruction. In addition, as a doctoral fellow to the BU Literacy and Language Department Chair, I engaged in scholarship and was a contributing member of several research teams. Our research agenda focused on instructional change, school improvement, and effective teaching practices that lead to measurable literacy learning gains.
After a move to Cape Cod in 2019 and a re-evaluation of lifestyle choices and career goals, I decided to pour my heart and soul into family life. In this space, I was able to envision Cape Reads as a home-grown tutoring service and community-oriented network of support, bridging home and school, offering resources to families and educators alike, and cultivating a shared concern for and commitment to helping all children grow and learn, and realize their full potential.
Cape Reads 